Mango and Urdu literature
By: Ghulam Mohammed Ansari
“Namana koi yaarkapaighambhejiye, Is faslmeinjobhejiye bas aambhejiye”.
Mango is one of the oldest fruits of India. A good mention of mango can be seen in the holy Vedas. Even, mangoes have been used as offerings to goddesses and gods since time immemorial. Thus, mango has been the favorite fruit of goddesses and gods too. According to this theory, the mango tree is considered as a sacred tree in India.
As soon as the mangoes are on the trees, the walk in the gardens begins. Swinging begins in the mango orchards. Young girls come together to sing songs of love and separation, bringing their hearts to their tongues. It would not be wrong to say that no other fruit is eaten with such gusto than mango.
In Sanskrit, mango is called “suta” and “amri” which means the ‘fragrant fruit’ and the ‘fruit that fulfils the human desire’. Apart from this, mangoes are also mentioned in Sanskrit by names like “AstadVatila”, “Kantha”, “Rasala”, “SahkaarPhal”, “PushapMahuchha”, Petankh” and “Push Machhwa”.In Persian it is called “Anba”. Similarly, mango is called “Abanj” in Arabic and “Naghzak” in Turani language. In North India it is called “Aam” and generally this fruit is called “Aam”. While in English it is called Mango.
Persian was the official language of India for a long time which also influenced the Gujarati language to a great extent. That is why it is also called “Amba”, “Aamba” or “Anbo” in Gujarati. By the way, Mango is also called “Keri” in Gujarati. Mango has been a favourite fruit of people since prehistoric times.
There are several varieties of this fruit that are associated with the place it is grown in or the variety it belongs to. In Urdu poetry, mangoes have received great mention and importance. A large number of Urdu poets have mentioned mangoes in Urdu poetryincluding the great MirzaGhalibwho was very much in love with this fruit.
The famous poet of the Aalamgir era “Bedil” has also mentioned mangoes in his letters. In Saharanpur, Shukrullah Khan Sahib, who was an admirer of “Bedil”and held him in high position, would send mangoes to Bedil. The evidence of this is found in the letters of Bedil and his Persian poetry.
Bedil wrote in his Persian poetry that “I don’t know what message is hidden in the mango that the heart wants to kissthe senders name. Wherever the mango is grown, its sweetness is precious to us. Even if the mango is born in Saharanpur, it reaches Delhi. What is the wonder of this fruit and how sweet it is that it is produced somewhere and found in Delhi.”While this letter of “Bedil” reveals the allure and love of mangoes, this letter also reveals the role of mangoes in strengthening social life. The kings also used to send mangoes to each other’s kingdoms. Due to which their relationship was balanced.
Mention of mangoes cannot be complete without Ghalib’s “Zauq-e-Amba-Nawazi”( Passionate about liking mangoes). “Hali” not only did a great job by writing “Yadgar-e- Ghalib” but also enlightened the world with the qualities of Ghalib’s life and poetry.
Ghalib was so fond of mangoes that he used to write letters to his friends asking them to send him mangoes. Ghalib’s Persian and Urdu letters mention requests for mangoes and praises of mangoes.
Once upon a time, Bahadur Shah Zafar along with some of his companions and Ghalibwas strolling in the “Bagh-e Hayat Bakhsh” or “MahtabBagh” during the mango season. Mangoes were springing on the trees. Interestingly, the mango here was not given to anyone except kings, sultans and begums. That is, these mangoes were reserved for them. Ghalib became restless after seeing this spring of mangoes. He would look at the mangoes again and again with tempting eyes. The king took notice of this and asked, “Mirza, what are you looking at so intently?”
Mirza folded his hands and said, “Pir and Murshid, I have heard that the name of the eater is written on the grain. I am looking to see whether my name or my father’s name is written on any of the grains or not.” The King was very impressed by Mirza’s reply and on the same day he sent a bunch of good mangoes to Mirza.
Regarding MirzaGhulab, one thing must be clarified that he used to order mangoes, mangoes were sent to him and he himself used to buy and eat mangoes. Despite this, Mirza’s heart was never satisfied with mangoes and their interest in mangoes remained constant.
Once MirzaGhalib, MaulanaFazal-e- Haq and other friends, were sitting somewhere. Everyone was giving their own opinion about mangoes. When MirzaGhalib’s number came, he said, “To me, a mango should have only two qualities, sweet and plentiful.” Hearing this, all the audience laughed.
Another joke related to MirzaGhalib is famous. Therefore, if mangoes are mentioned and this joke of MirzaGhalib is not mentioned, the story cannot be complete. It so happened that once Hakeem Raziuddin Khan, who was a very close friend of Mirza. They did not eat mangoes. One day he was sitting in the verandah of Mirza’s house. Mirza was also present there. Coincidentally, a donkey owner was passing through the same street with his donkey. Mango peels were lying in the street. The donkey sniffed and left. Seeing this, Hakim Sahib said to Mirza, “Look, mango is something that even a donkey does not eat.” Mirza said, “Indeed, the donkey does not eat.” See the end of MirzaGhalib’s love for mangoes that in one of his letters written to Mir Mahdi, he called mangoes “a substitute for wine”.
Moreover, during the harvest of mangoes, he didn’t even say ghazal. All Ghalib’s attention was on eating mangoes. It is said that Ghalibhas tasted as many varieties of mangoes, hardly any poet has had this opportunity.
After Ghalib, MaulanaHali also mentioned mangoes in his poem “Barkha Rut”. See the poem.
Jab ped se aamhaitapakta
Mein tum koidharudharhuntakta
Aakhirnahienpata jab kisiko
Detahunduaeinbekasiko
Rut aamkiaayeaurnahonyaar
Jiapnaaisi rut se bezaar.
(When the mangoes are dripping from the tree, I see you here and there finally, when none is found,
To anxiety, I pray. May it be the season of mangoes and friends are not present, my heart abhors such weather.)
Akbar Allahabadi was also a lover of mangoes. One of his famous poems can be seen in this connection.
Namana koi yaarkapaighambhejiye
Is faslmeinjobhejiye bas aambhejiye
AisaZaroorhokeunheinrakhkekhasakoon
Pukhta agar hon bees to das khaambhejiye
Maloom hi haiaapkobandeka address
Sidhe Allahabad mere naambhejiye
Aisa no hokeaap ye likhkheinjawabmein
Taamilhogi, pahlemagardaambhejiye
(Do not send a letter or a friend’s message, whatever you send in this season, just send mangoes. It must be so that I can keep them and eat them, if twenty mangoes are ripe, send ten raw mangoes also. You know the address of the servant, Send me directly to Allahabad. Lest you write this in response, Will comply, but send price first)
AllamaIqbal and Akbar Allahabadi had a long-standing relationship. There was always an exchange of correspondence. Once Akbar Allahabadi sent a box of “langda” mangoes from Allahabad to Lahore in the service of AllamaIqbal.Allama was very happy with this gift. Allama was also fond of mangoes, and had once written poetry in the Akbari style. He wrote two lines to Akbar Allahabadi on the reply receipt.
Ye sab Iqbal, Akbar kikaramatkakarishmahai,
Allahabad se langdachala, Lahore aapahuncha.
(All this is the charisma of Iqbal, Akbar, From Allahabad “Langra” left, reached Lahore.)
DaghDehlavi has also mentioned mangoes in his poetry. DaghDehlavi was the teacher of NizamMehboob Ali Khan of the Deccan. He once sent a lot of mangoes from the market in the service of his teacher. Dagh was very impressed to see this and wrote a stanza in his service. Dagh wrote that “Shah sent boatloads of mangoes. I am very grateful to him for that.”
Like MirzaGhalib, Mir Anis was also very fond of mangoes. Mir Anais used to eat the “langda” mangoes of Banaras with great gusto. Once Hakeem Syed Ali sent him a basket of mangoes and Anees wrote to him in the reply receipt saying, “How can I thank you for this blessing?” Lips are not separating due to its sweetness”.
We know Malihabad because of “Josh Malihabadi”.But the fact is that Malihabad’s fame is due to the Malehabad Mango Gardens located there. Located on the outskirts of Lucknow, this region has the status of mango heaven in India.
ShaheenIqbal “Asar” has called mangoes the “Imam” of all fruits.
Jazba-e-ushshaqkaamaanekohai
Phirlaziz-o-shirindaamaanekohai
Muqtaditaiyaarhonsafbandhkar
Sab phalonkaab imam aanekohai.
(The passion of lovers is about to come to fruition, Then comes the delicious and sweet bowl. Muqtadi, line up and get ready, The “Imam” of all fruits is now to come)
Apart from ShaheenIqbalAsar, Amin Hazeen’s poem “Abba Jab Bazar Se Aye”, Khalid Mehmood’s poem “Shah-e-Awadh se phone pekalmainebaatki”, IffatZareen’s poem “Aam Jo KhayeLalchaye”, SohailKakorvi and TabanNaqvi’s poems are also very interesting in this regard.
Mango has an important place in Urdu proverbs. In this regard, the most famous proverb can be said that “AamkeaamaurGuthalikeDaam”. Apart from this, other proverbs related to mangoes have been in daily use for years.
As for Sir Syed, he also loved mangoes. According to his friends, Sir Syed always kept good mangoes in front of the guests after the meal. In this way, Sir Syed used to make a feast of mangoes after the meal.
KhawajaHasanNizami was also very fond of mangoes. One of his letters about mangoes, “Aamkenaam”, it was published in the monthly “Munadi” in its April 30, 1933 issue. Which is related to reading.
He wrote that “I went to MirzaGhalib’s grave which is in front of my house. I said to his soul.
Wohbaadashabeenakisarmastiyaankahan,
Uthiyebas bakelazzat-e-khaab-e-sahargayee.
(It is no longer fun to stay drunk at night, Just get up now that the pleasure of the dream is gone.)
Mirzaji, mango season is coming. The mangoes you used to eat. The mangoes you used to be happy to see. Addressing Mango, KhwajaHasanNizami writes that “My dear, if I were a Hindu, I would have made you a deity, leaving the cow, the Ganges and the Pipal- Because you are juicy”.
He further writes that “When I go to the paradise of the Muslims, I will say to the angels, ‘Listen, brother, God has promised in the Holy Quran that you will get whatever you want in Paradise.’ That’s why I don’t want pomegranates, grapes or apples here, I want mangoes. Mango was my favorite in the world.
Urdu Humourist, MujtabiHussain wrote in one of his essays that “The joy of eating mangoes in the garden is not the same as eating them at the dining table. The garden belongs to someone else. But mangoes are ours. Going further, he wrote that “The greatest quality of mango is that it creates a sense of nationalism in our countrymen.” He further writes that “Mangoes have many names. Some names are so beautiful that they are suspected of being pseudonyms”.
However, many Urdu poets have expressed their thoughts on mangoes. These views are documented. By the way, writing about mangoes will continue forever. There will be talks about the virtues of mangoes. But tell me what is your opinion about mangoes and which mango do you like?
The writer is Assistant Editor ‘Asasa’ an Urdu Quarterly, Ahmedabad. He is also member SWA, Screen Writers Association, Mumbai. [email protected]
